Worker in stable condition after Westerly lightning strike

Editor's note: This version corrects the address of the Westerly sewage treatment plant.

Westerly — A lightning strike near a building at the town sewage treatment plant Wednesday morning injured one worker, who was taken to The Westerly Hospital.

The worker is in stable condition, according to town police.

Beth Gingerella, chief of the Westerly Ambulance Corps, said the lightning strike occurred at about 8:15 a.m. The worker is employed by United Water, the contractor that runs the plant for the town, she said.

Town Manager Michelle Buck said Wednesday morning that the lightning strike caused a power surge at the plant at 87 Margin St. An emergency generator automatically switched on briefly and there was no disruption of service, she said. The worker was touching a metal door at the plant when the strike occurred, she said, and felt a tingling sensation in his arm.